Decontamination of seawater from 137Cs and 90Sr radionuclides using inorganic sorbents.

ABSTRACT

In this work, we have studied sorption of 137Сs and 90Sr radionuclides from seawater under batch conditions by ferrocyanide sorbents based on hydrated titanium and zirconium dioxides (Т-35, NPF-HTD), clinoptilolite and glauconite (NPF-GL, NPF-CL) natural aluminosilicates, zirconium phosphate (T-3A), modified hydrated titanium dioxide (T-3K) as well as by manganese dioxide based on hydrated titanium dioxide (MD-HTD). Isotherms of sorption and dependences of cesium distribution coefficients on salt content and calcium concentration were obtained. Distribution coefficients of cesium and strontium were calculated. Stability of spent sorbents against radionuclides leaching was studied in from the point of view of their further treatment. The NPF-GL and NPF-HTD sorbents are recommended for treatment of seawater-based liquid radioactive waste with various salinity; these sorbents possess high distribution coefficients of cesium 104 and 105 ml/g even at the salinity of waste as high as 100 g L-1. Distribution coefficients of strontium from seawater were (1.0-1.9)·102 ml/g for all sorbents that is conditioned by the presence of colloidal species of strontium (34 ± 7%) in the simulated seawater. Capacities of the sorbents for strontium varied within 200-310 mg/g. The sorbents strongly retain adsorbed radionuclides the total percentage of leaching for 28 days was 4.4%, 2.2% and 3.1% for 137Cs leaching from the NPF-HTD, T-35 and T-3A sorbents respectively and 10.7% for 90Sr leaching from the NPF-CL sorbent.